I appreciate the perspective and insight that the Global South gives. In my experience, people from these areas and countries have been more devout Christians than most from the Global North. These people have had to experience real life cultural similarities to Jesus' life and the culture. They have been the minority groups and have not experienced the privilege that the Global North has. This privilege has clouded the original ideas and intent of Christianity.
The shift of Christianity from the Global North to the Global South
After completing each lesson, you should submit one post on the corresponding forum on Moodle. When you post, you should discuss either:
1. Something from the reading or lesson that was confusing to you or brought up further questions for you
OR
2. Something from the reading or lesson that shifted your thinking in some way and HOW it shifted your thinking
You should also respond to at least one of your fellow students' posts.
17 discussions
I was very shocked to hear about reverse evangelism. I am unsure if it is because I lacked the knowledge of global Christianity, I do not know what to accredit my ignorance to, but I was under the impression that America sent the vast majority of missionaries to other places and was also the most Christian country. It was very surprising to hear of reverse evangelism.
I'm very curious about the flow of money that was briefly discussed. It was mentioned that the majority of financial resources are based in Northern countries. What's the impact that the megachurch in Lagos has on its city/country? These institutions at the very least superficially resemble large coorporations, so are they economically disempowering communities in a similar way? OR are they using the services that these megachurches provide, to create jobs among their congregation members? I guess I'm curious if megachurches share the same structural qualities across countries (like how McDonalds is in every country), or if there's any real drastic differences between them.
The Reverse Evangelism was a surprise. I always thought that North America was sending the majority of missionaries out to other countries. To learn that North America receives missionaries, from places such as Nigeria, it was exceptionally surprising. Why I gave North America so much credit for sending out missionaries, I do not know. Then you throw in the decline of numbers, it just makes everything off balance of what I thought.
Personally, I was extremely surprised to find out that the United States receives so many missionaries from other countries. I always thought that the United States had one of the highest if not highest percentage of Christians in the population. I also find it funny that so many churches in America mission to Africa to aid their community while Nigeria send the most amount of missionaries to our country. I feel like the United States missionaries focus more on missioning for poverty and physical wellbeing of others whereas other countries send missionaries here for our emotional salvation.
I wasn’t really surprised that the south is more religious than the north.
When seeing the word "South" I immediately picture the South in Alabama, but the South in the shift is far greater than just the South in Alabama it includes South Africa, South Korea, etc. I believe religion has been put on the back burner in the United States as a whole, and Reverse Evangelism might be the one last life raft the United States has. The fast pace of society has crunched time to the point that going to church on Sunday no longer fits in the schedule for most Americans. The rise of "nones" should wake up those who are believers in Christianity. The United States needs to fix themselves and stop trying to fix others. Clearly we are not the highest Christian populated area. Why are missions being sent out? The United States needs missions within!
I'm confused on this whole lesson too be honest!
I was not not really surprised at the shift from north to south for religion. When I went to New York for a trip and attended a church service there it seemed as if they were just there to say "hey I went to church good for me". It did not really feel like they were there for the right reasons, whereas in my hometown it feels like almost everyone really takes church seriously when they go.
This reading defiantly shifted my thinking when concerning reverse evangelism. I picture it like a balance scale, for example, christianity was in the north and not the south, so missionaries spread it to the south. Well now there are many Christians in the south and they are sending missionaries to the North. It makes sense, it is just hard for me to fathom because I think I assumed we were the only country that sent out missionaries.
One question I have is, generally, why is christianity shrinking in America? Besides that question, I was very fascinated by the "reverse evangelism" efforts and their results. I feel like certain churches, such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God, have a great goal to bring everyone together and not be cookie-cutter christians.
I was not surprised of the shift from the North to the South. The south seems to have a bigger portion of people that are religious versus the North. The South is the roots for religion and Christianity.
I was surprised and actually excited to hear those other countries that we as Americans usually see as in need of our help, are coming here and to other developed countries in the global north to share their religion with us. It is ironic that the U.S. receives the most missionaries out of any country because of the attitude that many Americans have that the world is in need of them. I'm not sure why I was excited to hear this. It is probably a mixture of a "good for them" attitude and the fact that it goes against the norm of the Christian viewpoints that I have experienced. It always felt wrong to me that we look down on "developing countries" and make ourselves out to be their savior.
It doesn't surprise me that Christianity would shift south globally. I mean, it started in Jerusalem, not Rome or Ireland or North America. It feels like Christianity is trying to revert back to its global roots by heading back south and letting the seat of power travel south as well, if that makes sense. I don't really know how to phrase that.
It surprised me that the shift brought Non-Christians closer to the Christian faith instead of pushing them away. Global North and South Christians were good in the shift because of the acceptance of different faiths.
It was surprising to me to see the number of congregants in the megachurches outside the US. Is it more common to go to a larger church than smaller churches?
One question that the lesson brought up for me was: What is the largest contributor to the decline in the Christian population? Are people leaving Christianity themselves, or are they raising children who don't believe in the religion? Also, do you think that mega churches are an effective way of spreading faith?